Corrupted magic is hard to fight when you’re the only one
who believes something is wrong. Daria faces a battle to save her world.

BLURB

Six hundred years of peace are destroyed when Daria’s
settlement is attacked. It is the start problems for the land of Majura. Daria
saved people with magic and must join the magic wielding Mask wearers who rule
the land. Her dreams have warned if she became one it would be the end of
Majura. Are the Mask wearers keeping secrets or is she the only one who can see
the power in the land is changing. A Mask wearer called Alenze believes her and
offers to go on a quest with her to fix the Essence where the magic comes from,
but he is keeping secrets from her that could be the death of them all.

EXCERPT

If most of the
other Masks were like Alenze, then she was never going to fit in. He didn't
have a hair out of place. His clothes were grey but of the highest quality,
with a beautifully fitted long tunic and breeches and well-made knee-high
leather boots.

"During
the travelling, you'll be placed in a trance. This is done so you're not
alarmed by the experience. I'll be in control, and you'll not be aware of what's
happening around you."

He spoke to her
as if she were a child. The fact he was at least a head taller than her didn't
help matters as he peered down.

"I assure
you growing up here has made me resilient." Daria crossed her fingers
behind her back at the lie.

"Many
people struggle with the experience. I myself was glad I wore brown britches
the first time. I agree though. I sense you'll not be alarmed easily,"
Alenze replied.

For a second
Daria saw a smirk on his face. He had a sense of humor, who would have thought.
He even almost looked handsome when he smiled.

"Traveler
Quatrome, the sun is setting," her father interrupted. "The Chamber
is ready." He bowed his head to both of them.

Alenze offered
his arm to escort her into the Travelling Chamber. Daria stared at his hand as
her heart pounded in fear, but knew she had no choice but to eventually take
it. Pell stopped outside the Chamber and smiled at her, then looked to Alenze.

"Take care
of her, and warn your fellow Masks to watch out for her temper; she didn't
inherit her mother's green eyes and red hair without reason," Pell warned.

"It won't
be long, and I'll be back, especially if they don't want me, which is highly
likely," Daria soothed them as she tried to get her tears under control.

Alenze coughed
and Daria couldn't delay any more. Again, his arm was offered and this time she
accepted. He escorted her into the chamber and as the doors shut behind them,
she could hear Rumus howling and her breath caught in her throat.

Alenze let go
of her arm and walked into the center of the circular, windowless room. With
the doors closed, there was an oppressive feel to the space, with the only
illumination coming from the oil lamps placed about the walls. The floor was
covered with a beautiful painting. The tales were that the settlement had been
built around this place.

Alenze was
studying the markings on the floor. Daria's breath was catching in her throat
and the room was getting smaller. She couldn't go through with this, they
couldn't make her go. Her chest was getting tight as her panic increased. She
ran to the door of the chamber and raised her fists, thumping hard again and
again. The yells coming from her throat blanked out the pain as her fists
started to redden and bleed.

"Let me
out."

A hand touched
her shoulder, causing her to spin around screaming, her clenched fist aimed at
Alenze. Placing his hand over hers, he brought her fist down. He stared
intently at her with his dark grey eyes as he spoke.

"When I
went to the Domain in Denarius, I believed no one would want someone like me.
Those who came with me at that time were filled with a confidence I never had.
I didn't feel I'd ever belong, but now I do. Becoming a Mask has given my life
meaning beyond what I would ever have thought possible. I've grown to love what
I've become. You must trust me, and believe you'll feel that, too." He
paused. "Are you ready?"

Daria nodded as
he let go of her hands and walked over and stood over the open mouth of the
winged serpent painted on the floor. She stood on the outside of the circular
floor painting and thought her eyes must be playing tricks on her. The painting
was starting to move as the serpent's coils began to entwine one upon another
hypnotically.

"We can
delay no longer. Stand on the mark of the moon." Holding out his arm,
Alenze beckoned her to move forward.

She took the
step, her breath coming in gasps. The outer circle had symbols of the sun,
moon, stars and the Goddess Ikrar. The Goddess stood with her hands clasped
around a crystal.

Alenze removed
a small, plain brown mask from a pouch hanging around his neck and put it on
his face. It had no hooks or fastenings, but melded to him on contact.

"Enter the
circle, Daria."

Daria stepped
forward onto the moving picture. Alenze took her hands in a firm grip, and
needing something to hold onto, she gripped equally as hard around his wrists.
She wondered if he could hear her heart beating. He should, as it felt as if it
was going to explode through her chest.

"I don't
want to do this. My life is here, Crane is here, I love him and I want to
stay." Tears flowed down her face.

"Trust me,
Daria, and you'll be safe," Alenze instructed.

"I don't
want to trust you. I don't want to go and no one there will want me. They think
I'm bringing doom with me because I touched the crystal," Daria sobbed,
but Alenze wasn't listening anymore. His eyes were shut and he was chanting
strange words over and over. There was a humming noise making her dizzy, and
then something touched her foot. She jerked her knee up. Peering down, she let
out a scream as the coils of the snake picture on the floor started slithering
over her feet and around her ankles - where was the trance Alenze had promised?
The Mask was no longer solid on his face; the flat surface was bubbling as
though something was trying to erupt. Then the small heads of two snakes broke
free from the surface and bit into his temples. If he felt any pain he didn't
react.

More snakes
oozed from the Mask until the whole of his head was a wriggling mass moving
down his back and entwining around his arms. Two vipers separated from the
others encircling his arms. The snakes stopped their movements at his wrists
and raised their bodies up as though to get a good look at her. They swayed
hypnotically. Daria tried to pull free of Alenze's grip, but he was too strong.
Then without warning, both snakes struck at her wrists in unison.

"Alenze,"
his name burst from her mouth as the pain hit her arms and the poison burned
into her. His eyes opened, looking first to her face and then at the vipers
injecting their venom. She could hear his thoughts.